JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – The City of Jacksonville held its annual Peace Officers Memorial Day observance today to honor officers and first responders who died in the line of duty.<\/p>\n
Law enforcement from Onslow County and Jacksonville gathered at the Jacksonville Public Safety Remembrance Garden for the 10 a.m. ceremony. <\/p>\n
Jacksonville Police Chief Jarad Phelps says things like this remind him of why he does the job.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great to take the time to honor our heroes and support survivors. For me, that\u2019s everything. That\u2019s why we do our job, for commitment to our community,\u201d Phelps said. <\/p>\n
Detective William Whitehead and Officer Terry Lanier were among those honored, as well as other law enforcement officers.<\/p>\n
Officer Lanier\u2019s daughter, Jennifer Arnold, left at 3 a.m. Friday from her Virginia home to attend the ceremony honoring her father, who died in 1979, before she had the chance to meet him. <\/p>\n
Lanier was killed when he was stabbed in the neck on the job and was later pronounced dead at Onslow Memorial Hospital.<\/p>\n
Even though Arnold has moved away, she said Jacksonville still feels like home.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love my hometown. I stop by to see the memorials every time and visit my dad\u2019s tombstone,\u201d Arnold said.<\/p>\n
Arnold said she always attends the annual ceremony because she appreciates the city\u2019s recognition of her father and other fallen first responders.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe City of Jacksonville has this every year. I meet new people, they come forth, introduce themselves, and they speak about my father and how good a man he was,\u201d Arnold said.<\/p>\n
The ceremony included remarks from Jacksonville Police Chief Jarad Phelps, Onslow County Sheriff Chris Thomas, and Mayor Sammy Phillips, as well as a gun salute and ceremonial wreath-laying. <\/p>\n
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